Abstract

Reviews the book, The paradoxical self by K. J. Schneider. The main concern of this book is the self's diverse and often contradictory ways of being in the world. The idea that pathological or dysfunctional behaviors represent some sort of exaggeration or extremism in one's way of experience and being in the world is not new. Schneider offers a perspective that opens up the horizon for a more comprehensive and integrative understanding of such extremist tendencies. He does this by proposing that the tendencies toward contradictory extremes are intrinsic to the nature of the self, and thus in themselves they are neither healthy nor pathological. Human suffering and ills are a matter of failure of will or ability to confront the contradictory tendencies in us. Overall, this book is suitable for undergraduate courses and, with its easily accessible insights and concern with growth and wellbeing in the various spheres of life, will be of interest to the general reader. 2012 APA, all rights reserved)